The lectures herewith presented have been prepared in accordance with
the request and appointment of the First Presidency of the Church. The
greater number of the addresses were delivered before the Theology
Class of the Church University; and, after the close of the class
sessions, the lectures were continued before other Church
organizations engaged in the study of theology. To meet the desire
expressed by the Church authorities,--that the lectures be published
for use in the various educational institutions of the Church,--the
matter has been revised, and is now presented in this form.
In anticipation of probable question or criticism regarding the
disparity of length of the several lectures, it may be stated that
each of the addresses occupied two or more class sessions, and that
the present arrangement of the matter in separate lectures is rather
one of compilation than of original presentation.
The author's thanks are due and are heartily rendered to the members
of the committee appointed by the First Presidency, whose painstaking
and efficient examination of the manuscript prior to the delivery of
the lectures, has inspired some approach to confidence in the
prospective value of the book among members of the Church. The
committee here referred to consisted of Elders Francis M. Lyman,
Abraham H. Cannon, and Anthon H. Lund, of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles; Elder George Reynolds, one of the Presidents of the
Presiding Quorum of Seventy; Elder John Nicholson, and Dr. Karl G.
Maeser.
The lectures are now published by the Church, and with them goes the
hope of the author that they may prove of some service to the many
students of the scriptures among our people, and to other earnest
inquirers into the doctrines and practices of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.